“You guys have so much fun to look forward to!”

Just like that, Nick was embarrassed again. But not Bryce; he grabbed Nick’s hand and pulled him closer. “Come on, baby. Let’s see what we can find.”

***

Bryce bought two dildos, a plug and more lube. He had no idea if he’d need all of it, but he wasn’t taking any chances. They were going to get this problem fixed, and get it fixed as soon as possible.

And have a whole lot of fun in the process.

A few hours later, they were home and in Nick’s kitchen while he cooked dinner.

“Come help me for a second,” Nick called to him. “Stir this.” He handed Bryce a bowl. “Don’t stop until I tell you to. It’ll fuck with the consistency.”

Bryce took over stirring the white mixture. “How’d you realize you love cooking?” he asked. He knew Nick went to culinary school right after high school, so it seemed as though he always knew. Bryce had never been as set in a decision as Nick had been, with both Jill and his career.

He envied Nick for that. Envied Jill that she’d had him for so long, even though she hadn’t realized the good thing she had.

“I’ve loved it for as long as I can remember. I used to help my mom when I was young. The girls were all older, and Mom wanted them in the kitchen with her. She’s got these very traditional ideas about gender roles. She’d want the girls with her, but then she’d let me sit around after school, not doing anything. I helped Dad with outside chores sometimes, and I enjoyed it. I like being outdoors, too, but while my sisters would complain about helping cook dinner, I’d ask her to help. Mom was funny about it at first, but then it became our thing. It made us close in a lot of ways.”

Nick shrugged it off, but Bryce saw how big a deal it was to him. He may not agree with his mom on a lot of things, but they were close. It would kill him if she wasn’t on board with their relationship.

“Pretty soon you were probably taking over and showing everyone how it’s done, I’d guess.” Bryce winked at him.

“Eh. I don’t know about that. I enjoy it, though—providing for people I love. That’s how I feel about cooking. I’m giving people something they need. It makes me feel good.”

Nick made Bryce feel good. Everything about him did. “So, then it was automatic? There was never another possibility for you other than culinary school?”

“Nope. Not really. I guess maybe I pretended there was when I was young...like I didn’t really know for sure, but I did.” Nick mixed ingredients into another bowl. Bryce had no clue with he was making, but he didn’t ask, either. He’d be surprised.

“Same with Jill?” Bryce felt a stab in his chest at the mention of Nick’s ex-wife.

Another shrug. “I loved her, so yeah, I guess. It wasn’t always the way it had been in the end. We were happy at some point. Now, when I look back, I realize we might not have been happy in the right ways. I think we got married because we were all each other knew. We loved each other, but I think maybe we hadn’t been in love with each other for a long time. I didn’t realize it then, though. Hell, I don’t think I realized it until I met you. Mom was never fond of her, but she accepted her. She was good to Jill, even though to me, she never hid the fact that she didn’t think Jill was good enough for me. She didn’t think she, and I quote, ‘possessed the right qualities in a wife.’” Nick laughed. Bryce didn’t. He sure as hell didn’t possess any of those qualities either, the biggest one being that he wasn’t and would never be a wife. Boyfriend, yes, but he wasn’t a woman.

“But she accepted her because she loved you?” Bryce asked, still stirring.

Nick looked at him, and Bryce thought he heard the question in his voice. “Yes, she did. It might take her a little while, but she’ll accept us for the same reason.”

He didn’t sound as sure about that as Bryce needed him to sound.

“When do you think things started to go downhill with Jill?” he asked.

Nick moved to the cabinet and grabbed a few spices, mixing them. “You know, I can’t totally blame her. I can blame her for cheating, but not everything. That’s something else I hadn’t realized until recently. Jill’s parents were like mine, in some ways. They never cared for me, only they didn’t hide it as well as my mom did. After I got my degree, I worked as a chef, and then continued on for my Masters. I always knew I’d want my own restaurant, and I wanted every skill I could learn, so I worked my ass off. Still paying that shit off, by the way; that and the restaurant.” Nick laughed and then continued.